Homemade Remedies for Severe Dry Skin & Hair

Water makes up roughly 60 percent of the human body’s weight and is essential for the proper functioning of virtually every body system, according to MayoClinic.com. However, 21st century life can sometimes make it hard to keep your skin and hair properly hydrated. Fortunately, there are some home remedies that can help you to combat the forces--blow dryers, forced-air heat and dehumidifiers--that rob your skin and hair of the moisture they so badly need.

Fight Dry Hands

• Housewives and others who spend a lot of time with their hands in hot water that leaches the moisture out of the skin end up with dry, chapped and unsightly hands. In The Doctor’s Book of Home Remedies, compiled by the editors of Prevention magazine, dermatologist Howard Donsky, M.D., associate professor of medicine at the University of Toronto, suggests that you fight water with water. As counterintuitive as it may sound, Donsky recommends soaking your dry, chapped hands in warm--not hot--water for a few minutes. “Then pat off excess water and apply vegetable or mineral oil to the damp surface to seal in moisture.”

Aromatherapy

• Bill Gottlieb, editor of New Choices in Natural Healing, turned to two aromatherapists for ideas on remedies for dry skin and hair. For skin, Victoria Edwards of Fair Oaks, California, recommends a face and body oil to be applied while skin is still slightly damp after bathing. Make the oil by adding 10 drops each of Roman chamomile, lavender, rosemary, neroli and carrot seed oils to 2 oz. of olive, sesame or almond oil.

  Connecticut aromatherapist Judith Jackson suggests this blend of essential oils to return natural luster to hair that is dried out: Mix two drops each of bay, lavender and sandalwood oils to 6 oz. of warm soy or sesame oil. Part your hair into 1-inch sections and then apply the oil to your scalp with a cotton ball. After finishing the application, wrap your head in a towel and allow this blend of oils to work its magic for roughly 15 minutes. Then remove the towel and shampoo your hair twice.

Hot Oil Treatment for Hair

• The Green Guide’s Complete Reference for Consuming Wisely suggests combing several tbsp. of olive or jojoba oil through your hair before taking a shower. After application, put on a shower cap, step into the shower where the warm water will help the oil to penetrate your hair. After a few minutes, remove the cap and shampoo your hair as you would do normally.

Moisturizing Skin

• Readers Digest’s 1,801 Home Remedies has some tips for moisturizing your facial skin. Puree the pulp of an avocado in your blender or food processer and then apply the resulting paste to your face as a moisturizing mask. You can also do your skin a big favor by switching from the deodorant soaps that tend to dry out skin to one that has extra fat or oil added during the soap-making process. Soaps in the latter category include Basis, Dove, Neutrogena and Oilatum.